Tour of California – inside view with pro rider Ted King

Ted King leading his Cannondale teammates as they punish the peloton. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cannondale

I had the occasion to speak to Ted King of Cannondale Pro Cycling this weekend, just before the start of the Tour of California. Ted is a gentle giant of the peloton, standing 6’2” but with the sort of sophistication that a smart New Englander gets after years of international racing. You will also enjoy Ted’s blog, where he shows the sparkling wit and intellect that make him stand out in the pro peloton.

KWM: You were part of the Cannondale train for a successful and dramatic spring campaign, including Flanders, where you guys were key in setting Peter up to have a shot @ the win (he finished an impressive 2nd). What were the highlights for you?

Ted: The spring Classics are an amazing animal. They’re unlike anything else the entire year and fit so many superlatives — they’re the biggest, craziest, most narrow, most harrowing races of the year. This year surely will be memorable for having podium finishes or wins in virtually every spring classic race we did except two. That said, honestly the best highlights come after the race. Whereas all the action of the spring Classics come together and sort of meld in your mind as one gnarly, amalgamous blob of hectic bike racing, the best memories are hanging out that evening at the race hotel, sharing a very tasty Belgian trappist beer. The Belgians take their beer drinking very seriously, so rather than congratulating and patting each other on the back with a dainty glass of champagne or prosecco in hand, the stout glass of proper Belgian beer honestly brings the best memories.

KWM: You come into this with Cannondale’s A Team since the part of Cannondale doing the Giro d’Italia lost team leader Ivan Basso to injury. In addition, you’ve got arguably the absolute hottest property in cycling in Peter Sagan. Given his enormous success here last year, and his obvious ability to win almost every stage, you guys will be in the spotlight from the first mile. How are you with that?

Ted: We know the pressure is on. Five stage wins last year and the sprint jersey puts the public’s eye on us. But right from the very get go on stage one, this year’s race is extremely hard. We don’t necessarily have a big GC hope here, so taking a shot at stages as we did last year is more our cup of tea. Thankfully working for the likes of a guy like Peter, he tends to deliver more often than not. [Ted did great work on Stage 1 and Peter did win the field sprint.]

KWM: You are something of a Spring Classics man, so this is your first racing after that. What are your personal ambitions for ToC?

Ted King knows how to eat in Europe!

Ted King knows how to eat in Europe! Photo: Artiste Ted King

Ted: Yup, this is the first time pinning a number on my back after a lengthy spring campaign. I took a short rest after returning from Europe and am pumped for this next chunk of the year. The Tour of California has some big personal ramifications, since a good showing here will lead to the next one and then hopefully the Tour de France in July. Of course, being the sole American on this team and with this being my sixth Tour of California, I’m pretty darn stoked for this race on home soil.

KWM: People are justifiably excited about a stage finish at the top of Mount Diablo, but it’s not at all a steep or technical climb. A tall guy has better odds than on something like Mt. Baldy so how are you feeling about that as the big day in this Tour?

Ted: We’ll take each stage day by day. Sure there are days I’d love to take the stab at being in the break and going for the win. It takes the pressure off the team and sets up some personal ambitions. Heck, win Diablo? That’d be awesome!

KWM: There’s talk of more specific doping controls and use of the biological passport during the ToC. Will that have any effect on your race days?

Ted: Having had to cut last night’s evening of sleep short to give blood for the biological passport program, and seeing the DCOs (drug control officers) on patrol here at the race hotel, it’s obvious that the ToC is providing outstanding anti-doping controls. It protects the race, it protects us as riders, and as much as it can seem an invasion of privacy, it’s part of the job these days to provide a clean environment for racing. Day to day changes? Nope.

KWM: I hope we get to see you in the Tour de France this summer? Thoughts on selection?

Ted: That makes two of us! King for the Tour, right?! I’m on the long list, so it’s just a matter of putting in some good rides this week and a solid June. The team will take only the best, fittest, and fastest riders, so I need to be in that elite of the elite tier.

KWM: You’ve had a remarkable career so far, in particular for someone who came so late to the game. What advice do you have for young riders who dream of following in your footsteps and riding bikes internationally, sipping macchiatos in pro kit in Italia?

Ted: I’m proud of my career precisely because I arrived later in the game. That is, I think staying well rounded is the best method and best piece of advice. In two more words: collegiate cycling. Racing in school was my entry into the sport and leap to the domestic pro ranks. Staying well rounded offers an excellent perspective to this crazy macchiato-sipping, plane-hopping lifestyle.

KWM: What’s the most exciting cycling event you’ve been to in the last year? And has there been one that made you feel good about the future of the sport?

Ted: The most exciting event I’ve been to in the past year just might be CrossVegas. I’m certainly no cyclocross’er, so I was so perfectly out of my element during that race, plus all things Las Vegas made it simply nuts. The most feel good future of the sport moment? There’s probably not one, per se. Rather, it’s being part of races with these young guys just slaying it. These guys who are 21, 23, 25 years old dictating races. Young guys I know and whom I believe wholeheartedly are racing pure and clean. It’s not a next generation — it’s a generation that’s racing right now. That’s awesome.

Ted had a great ride on Stage 2. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cannondale

Special notes: Ted’s ride profile for yesterday’s dangerously hot Stage 2 reads: “Like riding into a hair dryer. While sitting in the furnace. Next to the fireplace. Ouch.” But Ted was the first finisher for Cannondale, only 4 minutes off the winner’s pace on a day when many lost 30, suggesting he’s come to California in excellent shape. He could do big things on Diablo!